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THE YOUNG KING
＇TO MARGARET LADY BROOKE … THE RANEE OF SARAWAK＇
It was the night before the day fixed for his coronation； and the
young King was sitting alone in his beautiful chamber。 His
courtiers had all taken their leave of him； bowing their heads to
the ground； according to the ceremonious usage of the day； and had
retired to the Great Hall of the Palace； to receive a few last
lessons from the Professor of Etiquette； there being some of them
who had still quite natural manners； which in a courtier is； I need
hardly say； a very grave offence。
The lad … for he was only a lad； being but sixteen years of age …
was not sorry at their departure； and had flung himself back with a
deep sigh of relief on the soft cushions of his embroidered couch；
lying there； wild…eyed and open…mouthed； like a brown woodland
Faun； or some young animal of the forest newly snared by the
hunters。
And； indeed； it was the hunters who had found him； coming upon him
almost by chance as； bare…limbed and pipe in hand； he was following
the flock of the poor goatherd who had brought him up； and whose
son he had always fancied himself to be。 The child of the old
King's only daughter by a secret marriage with one much beneath her
in station … a stranger； some said； who； by the wonderful magic of
his lute…playing； had made the young Princess love him； while
others spoke of an artist from Rimini； to whom the Princess had
shown much； perhaps too much honour； and who had suddenly
disappeared from the city； leaving his work in the Cathedral
unfinished … he had been； when but a week old； stolen away from his
mother's side； as she slept； and given into the charge of a common
peasant and his wife； who were without children of their own； and
lived in a remote part of the forest； more than a day's ride from
the town。 Grief； or the plague； as the court physician stated； or；
as some suggested； a swift Italian poison administered in a cup of
spiced wine； slew； within an hour of her wakening； the white girl
who had given him birth； and as the trusty messenger who bare the
child across his saddle…bow stooped from his weary horse and
knocked at the rude door of the goatherd's hut； the body of the
Princess was being lowered into an open grave that had been dug in
a deserted churchyard； beyond the city gates； a grave where it was
said that another body was also lying； that of a young man of
marvellous and foreign beauty； whose hands were tied behind him
with a knotted cord； and whose breast was stabbed with many red
wounds。
Such； at least； was the story that men whispered to each other。
Certain it was that the old King； when on his deathbed； whether
moved by remorse for his great sin； or merely desiring that the
kingdom should not pass away from his line； had had the lad sent
for； and； in the presence of the Council； had acknowledged him as
his heir。
And it seems that from the very first moment of his recognition he
had shown signs of that strange passion for beauty that was
destined to have so great an influence over his life。 Those who
accompanied him to the suite of rooms set apart for his service；
often spoke of the cry of pleasure that broke from his lips when he
saw the delicate raiment and rich jewels that had been prepared for
him； and of the almost fierce joy with which he flung aside his
rough leathern tunic and coarse sheepskin cloak。 He missed；
indeed； at times the fine freedom of his forest life； and was
always apt to chafe at the tedious Court ceremonies that occupied
so much of each day； but the wonderful palace … JOYEUSE； as they
called it … of which he now found himself lord； seemed to him to be
a new world fresh…fashioned for his delight； and as soon as he
could escape from the council…board or audience…chamber； he would
run down the great staircase； with its lions of gilt bronze and its
steps of bright porphyry； and wander from room to room； and from
corridor to corridor； like one who was seeking to find in beauty an
anodyne from pain； a sort of restoration from sickness。
Upon these journeys of discovery； as he would call them … and；
indeed； they were to him real voyages through a marvellous land； he
would sometimes be accompanied by the slim； fair…haired Court
pages； with their floating mantles； and gay fluttering ribands； but
more often he would be alone； feeling through a certain quick
instinct； which was almost a divination； that the secrets of art
are best learned in secret； and that Beauty； like Wisdom； loves the
lonely worshipper。
Many curious stories were related about him at this period。 It was
said that a stout Burgo…master； who had come to deliver a florid
oratorical address on behalf of the citizens of the town； had
caught sight of him kneeling in real adoration before a great
picture that had just been brought from Venice； and that seemed to
herald the worship of some new gods。 On another occasion he had
been missed for several hours； and after a lengthened search had
been discovered in a little chamber in one of the northern turrets
of the palace gazing； as one in a trance； at a Greek gem carved
with the figure of Adonis。 He had been seen； so the tale ran；
pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that
had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the
building of the stone bridge； and was inscribed with the name of
the Bithynian slave of Hadrian。 He had passed a whole night in
noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of Endymion。
All rare and costly materials had certainly a great fascination for
him； and in his eagerness to procure them he had sent away many
merchants； some to traffic for amber with the rough fisher…folk of
the north seas； some to Egypt to look for that curious green
turquoise which is found only in the tombs of kings； and is said to
possess magical properties； some to Persia for silken carpets and
painted pottery； and others to India to buy gauze and stained
ivory； moonstones and bracelets of jade； sandal…wood and blue
enamel and shawls of fine wool。
But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his
coronation； the robe of tissued gold； and the ruby…studded crown；
and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls。 Indeed； it was
of this that he was thinking to…night； as he lay back on his
luxurious couch； watching the great pinewood log that was burning
itself out on the open hearth。 The designs； which were from the
hands of the most famous artists of the time； had been submitted to
him many months before； and he had given orders that the artificers
were to toil night and day to carry them out； and that the whole
world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their
work。 He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the
cathedral in the fair raiment of a King； and a smile played and
lingered about his boyish lips； and lit up with a bright lustre his